Charles j



C. J. DUNBAR.

MECHANICAL POSTING. APPLICATION FILED IAN. I5. ISIB 1,313,588. Patend Aug. 19,1919.'

; UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

CHARLES J'. DUNBAR, 0F KALAMAZO'O, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO ACCOUNTING DEVICES COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MECHANICAL POSTING.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Application` led January 18, 1918.. vSerial No. 212,406.

To all whomvz't may concern v is a specification.

In modern bookkeeping practice, the ledger consists of loose leaves secured within a binder, entries being preferably made rupon the various leaves by means of an adding and recording machine. In performing such mechanical posting, the leaf upon which an entry is to be made must be removed from the binder, placed in the adding and recording machine and subsequently replaced in the binder. If mechanical posting is to be practical and commercially successful, it is necessary to make the removal ofthe ledger sheets from the binder and their replacement very rapid and convenient.

In order that the bookkeeper shall be able to nger the leaves and quickly select the desired leaf from the binder, it is desirable to support the ledger in a position inclined to the horizontal so that the free end ofthe sheet may be readily separated from the adjacent sheets. It also is necessary that a place be provided to receive the sheets' after their removal from the adding and recording machine, in order that said sheets may be kept in proper order with reference to each other and to the intervening ledger sheets, if any. It has been proposed to provide a rack having one pocket for supporting the ledger in inclined position and another pocket for supporting the leaves removed* from the ledger during the posting operation. However, when the ledger is placed in the first mentioned pocket and the lfront cover of the ledger is swung into open position preparatory to removing leaves, the front cover` overlies the other pocket and thus prevents said pocket from being used to receive the sheets on which. posting has been done. It also has been proposed to provide a rack having a single pocket to support the ledger in inclined position and to provide an auxiliary rack adapted to be hooked onto the binder so as to be supported upon the front cover after the latter has been swung into open position.

The object of my invention, generally stated, is to' provide means whereby the timeconsuming and troublesome features involved in ythe use of the ledger and racks hereinbefore described are obviated, and the operation of machine posting rendered convenient and expeditious'. This object is attained by means of the apparatus herein-` after described, one form of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective View of a 'rack and a ledger embodying features of'my invention," the ledger being shown closed. Fig. 2 is asimilar view, but showing the ledger open as when posting is beingdone. Fig. 8 is a fragmentalfront view of a ledger embodying features of my invention. Fig. 4 vis a detail view of a removable hinge pin for the front cover of the ledger. fragmental sectional view taken approximately in the plane of dotted line 5 of Fig. `In Figs. land 2is shown a rack A whichv may be constructed in any suitable way and of anyy preferred materials, the form of rack selected to illustratethe invention compris-v ing al V-shaped pocket 1 to support `the, ledger fB in inclined position and. a V- shaped pocket 2 to support the'front cover of the ledger and the leaves Z) removed from,

the ledger.

The ledger may be of any well-known or Fig. 5 is ak sections 4 mounted to slide toward and away from each other upon the back section 3, and two hinged covers 5. The meansfor moving the side sections 4 toward and away from each other to clamp or release the leaves may be of any desired character. Inasmuch as various forms of compression ledger-backs are well-known, I have deemed it unnecessary to illustrate the details of such a back, having merely shown the toggles 6, nut 7 and screw 8 of one form of such binder. The leaves may be connected to the side sections 4 in any standard or preferred manner, such leaves being usually provided with holes and slots to receive suitable fastening devices in the ledger. One wall of the pocketl 2 of the rack may be provided with a suitable number of ribs 9 to enter notches in the binding edges of the leaves and thus keep the leaves properly registered with each other during the interval between their removal from the adding and recording machine and their replacement in the ledger.

One or both of the covers 5 of the ledger are hinged to the ledger back in such a way that they may be easily removed when desired and at other times be securely connected to the ledger black. The cover hinges may be of any desired construction. Herein I have shown the side sections 4 of the ledger back as being provided with perforated ears or lugs 10, and the cover 5. as having sleeves 11 adapted to lie between the lugs 10 and in axial alinement therewith. 12 is a hinge pin extending through the alined members 10 and 11 and serving as a pivot for the cover. One end of the pin 12 is. provided with a knob 13 for convenience in withdrawing the pin. Upon the other end of the pin 12 is screwed a nut 14 adapted to abut against the adjacent sleeve ll'and thus prevent the pin 12 from being accidentally disengaged from the cover and side section.

Preferably means is provided tofacilitate the alining of the sleeves 11 with the lugs 10 when the cover 5 is to be replaced. Herein isshown a ledge 15 upon each side section 4, said ledge being located in position to support the inner end of the cover 5 with the sleeves 11 in alinement with the lugs 10, thus facilitating the insertion of the pin 12 into the alined lugs 10 and sleeves 11.

When posting is to be done, the ledger is placed inthe pocket 1 of the rack A, the side sections 4 are. moved apart to unclamp the leaves b, and the front cover 5 is disengaged from the ledger and laid in the pocket 2, as j shown in Fig. 2. The leaves Zn are then removed from the ledger in regular order and inserted, one at a time, in the adding and recording machine. After making entries upon any given sheet, the sheet is removed from themachine and placed in the pocket 2, as represented in Fig. 2. When posting has been completed, the leaves are taken from the pocket 2 and placed in the ledger,

the side sections 4 are moved toward each other to clamp the leaves securely in the ledger, and the front cover is replaced and secured to the ledger back by means of the pin 12 and nut 14.

It will be seen that the devices herein disclosed expedite removal of the ledger leaves from the ledger and their replacement after posting has been done, and provide for the proper and convenient disposal of the leaves.

I claim as my invention:

1. A ledger having, in combination, a back, two covers, and a separable hinge connection between one of said covers and the ledger back, said connection comprising perforated elements upon the cover and the ledger back, a pin withdrawably inserted in said perforated elements, and means to prevent the pin from being accidentally disengaged froin said perforated elements, said ledger back having a ledge to support the inner end of said removable coverv with the perforated elements on said cover in axial alinement with the perforated elements on the ledger back.

2. A ledger having, in combination, a back formed of a back section and two side sections mounted thereon and adjustable toward and away from eachother, two covers and a separable hinge connection between onel of said side sections and one of said covers, said connection comprising perforated elements upon the said last-referredto cover and one of said side sections, a pin withdrawably inserted in said perforated elements, and means to prevent the pin from being accidentally disengaged from said perforatedk elements, said ledger back having a ledge to support the inner end of said removable cover with the perforated elements on said cover in axial alinement with the perforated elements onA said side section.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. CHARLES J. DUNBAR.

(naplesv of this patent may be obtained for` ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,v

- Washington, D. G. 

